Safety-pin.



No. 805,160. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

H. R. SARGENT.

SAFETY PIN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13,1904.

THE-SEES: NMEHTQR:

infants.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed M y 13,1904. Serial No. 207,723.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOWARD R. SARGENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Pins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety-pins, the object being to provide a pin which may be applied to fasten together clothing, bandages, or other apparel in which it is desirable to form a temporary and secure fastening. With safetypins as commonly fashioned two hands are needed to attach the pin-one to stick the pinshaft and the other to latch the clasp. While for many uses this is unobjectionable, there are many occasions when one hand is not free as, for example, in surgery or in the care of Again, there are occasions when it would be particularly desirable to be able to apply and clasp the pin with one hand, as in binding a wound, when pressure on the clasp end of the pin by the fingers would give pain to the injured.

The distinguishing feature of my pin comprises a conformation which permits a firm controlling grip by the fingers in such a way as to give a compression leverage by which the two spring membersnamely, the shaft and the claspmay be forced together and twisted out of their normal plane, so as to bury the pin under the clasp or guard. This is most easily efi'ected by providing a lateral extension at the rear end which forms a lever to be grasped by the thumb and second finger. This permits the digital finger to bear forward of the lever on the clasp-shaft and makes the manipulation with one hand a very simple and convenient operation. A further requisite in a pin of this kind of particular advantage in surgical uses is that the pin shall be free from projections to prevent pain by pressure on a tender part of the wound while being clasped.

I form the pin, as usual, of a single piece of spring-wire having a hook, clasp, or guard at one end, or the guard may be of a separate piece of sheet metal, and one or more reflexes may be made at the rear end in the form of a circle or loop to give the necessary elasticity. The bends constituting the lever may be formed as part of this loop or may be formed at a point nearer the clasp.

My invention therefore comprises asafetypin formed of a bent strip of wire and provided with an extension affording proper leverage to manipulate the pin with the thumb and fingers of one hand,the pin-shaft being free from projections opposite the clasp member.

The novel features will be specifically indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 shows a simple form of my invention; Fig. 2, another form having aguard or sheath for the point, and Figs. 3 and 4 modifications.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a piece of springwire is bent in forming-tools with a clasp a at one end and a loop 6 at the rear, the two members having a bias to open, as indicated. The loop forms in this type a lateral extension which permits it to be grasped by the thumb and second finger and the pin-shaft pushed through the cloth. The forefinger may then be applied on top and at the side of the clasp-shaft at a point 0 to twist the clasp out of line with the point and depress it until it embraces the point.

In Fig. 2 is shown a sheath (Z to cover or bury the points and prevent the puncture of the skin or fingers, as is well understood, and a second projecting 100p (Z' in line with the pin-shaft reinforced by a metal sleeve to prevent the bandage from slipping off from the pin. The loop d is of great advantage when the safety-pin is used to secure a bandage over a wound, as it permits the necessary leverage to clasp the pin without pressure on the wound, a finger being pressed on top of the loop to hold the pin-shaft steady while the clasp-shaft is sprung into place.

In Fig. 3 is shown a reflex at c to stiffen the pin member and to prevent the bandage from slipping beyond the pin.

In Fig. 4 the lever is shown as a somewhat flat and elongated double or reflexed part f, by means of whichthe leverage is brought nearer the point and which requires less power to manipulate and is not so liable to shift in position after fastening.

It will be seen that in all of the forms illustrated there are no projections from the pinshaft in a direction away from the clasp member, which projections would obstruct the adjustment or would produce pressure on a Wound.

While I have shown herein the best way now known to me of carrying out my improvements, my invention is not confined in application to the forms shown; but the pin may be made of any conformation within the scope of my claims and specification hereinabove set out.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A safety-pin formed of bent Wire and comprising a clasp member and a pin member,

5 said clasp member having a loop constituting a handle at the junction of the two members,

and the pin member being free from projectionsin a direction opposite the clasp member.

2. A safety-pin formed of bent wire com- IO prising a clasp member and a pin member,

said clasp member having a loop constituting a handle at the junction of the '[W0 members,

the pin member being free from projections in a direction opposite the clasp member and having a longitudinal extension at its joint 5 With the pin member to prevent bodily shifting in the fabric.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of March, 1904:-

-HOWARD R. SARGENT.

\Vitnesses:

ALEX. F. MACDONALD, FLORA F. SPRAGUE. 

